REPORT – ARLINGTON INTERNATIONAL 2 DAY EVENT, ZIMBABWE 14 & 15
MARCH 2015
By: Zara Nicolle
THE JOURNEY
Zambia took 14 horses to Zimbabwe to compete at the Arlington
International Event. The following is an account of the procedures used to move
9 horses on the Kiara Farm lorry. The 5 remaining horses travelled a day later
on Alison Hawke’s lorry and Lamise Ahmed’s horse-box.
Lusaka to Harare
Paperwork needed:
1. Temporary Import Permit from Zimbabwe.
2. Agricultural Import Permit from Zimbabwe – took 2 weeks.
3. Arlington Show Schedule and letter from Zimbabwe NF addressed “To
Whom It May Concern” that asked for assistance in paperwork
procedures.
4. Health/Sanitation Export Permit from Zambia – Dr Chikoondo room 4. To
obtain this you need copies of horse ids and vaccinations: AHS and Flu.
(Flu for Zimbabwe permit). Mares and Stallions need Dourine tested – for
the blood tests we used a lab in Zimbabwe. A Gov. Vet will also need
inspect the horses.
5. Zambia Export Permit from Mulangushi House – need Health Export
Permit. Also if you need to take feed you will need a Sanitation Certificate
and Export Permit for that.
6. For the return trip one must apply for, before you leave, an Import Permit
for Zambia: you need Temp. Export Permit, horse ids etc. Also helpful to
do a cover letter explaining why the horses are going to Zimbabwe and
Sports Council Clearance letter. Letter from ZANEF also helpful.
7. 2 x invoices. 1 from Zambia to Zimbabwe and 1 from Zimbabwe to
Zambia (to use on return). We valued the horses at $4000 each – there is
no duty to pay based on value and when trying to ‘push’ at the border it is
helpful that the horses are not valued too low.
8. Road manifest – from your clearing agent. We used Esse Clearing on
Zambia side and Manica on Zimbabwe side. It is important to remember
that you need clearing on both sides of the border. Esse accepted copies
of all documents via email. Manica required originals. We sent all
original documents via bus to the border on Friday 6 March. Give preclearance 3 days. Zimbabwe would not pre clear the horses but they were
placed under priority so that they were processed quickly once they had
been inspected.
Once we had confirmed that the papers had been entered into the system and
the clearing process had begun we were happy to plan to load and go.
Monday 9 March 03:30 started to load horses. Lorry left at 04:00. Arrived at
the border at 07:30. Horses inspected by customs and Zimbabwe Government
Vet (we had made an appointment to meet him). 09:45 – lorry left to Harare.
16:15 lorry arrived at Harare Exhibition Park. All horses off loaded – hungry but
well. We were met by Dr Carol Greebe who acted as the Gov. Vet representative.
Each NF – Zambia, Zimbabwe and RSA - were stabled separately – a start to the
‘bubble’ scenario that will be implemented with the acknowledgement of the
OIE/FEI High Health Horse concept.
Harare to Lusaka
Unfortunately we started this process a couple of days later than we
should have. One ideally needed a couple of days to get customs clearance from
Zimbabwe - pre-clearance is only done in Harare but the customs offices in
Harare are closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Paperwork needed:
1. Zambia Import Permit.
2. Export Health permits for each horse issued by Zimbabwe Government
Vet. They will also sign and stamp Zambia Import Permit.
3. Road Manifest from Zimbabwe Clearing Agent
4. Invoice Zimbabwe to Zambia
On Friday 13 March the Zimbabwe Government vets inspected the horses,
issued the Export Health documents and signed the Zambia Import permit. We
then took all the completed papers to Manica Head Office on Coventry Road,
Harare. We were warned that the papers would be ready at the earliest on
Monday at 10:00 so we decided to plan to leave on Tuesday and rest the horses
on Monday. There then ensued many discussions between the Gov. Vet, Customs
and our clearing agent pertaining to how to process the paperwork – especially
since we did not have a Zimbabwe Export Permit nor a CD1 form from a
Zimbabwe bank – we did not have these because the horses had come in on a
Temporary Import Permit and did not originate from Zimbabwe. Eventually
everyone (Zimbabwe Gov Vets and Customs) agreed that they would process the
papers and one set (of three sets submitted) was entered into the system. We
then planned to leave on Tuesday. Unfortunately, a new batch of customs
officers reported to work on Tuesday and so began the whole discussion again!
However the paperwork was finally approved and the horses were loaded at
09:30 and set off to the border. Alison Hawke and I remained at Harare
Exhibition Park and waited for the paperwork to be released. Finally the papers
were delivered at 11:30 and we raced to catch the trucks and trailer. I caught the
truck just as it rolled into Chirundu at 16:30. Apart from a hitch - the Gov. Vet
was concerned about the hay with the horses (we needed a permit for the hay)
we left the border at 17:45 and continued the journey to Lusaka. We arrived at
Kiara Farm at 09:30. The horses were very tired and we were glad that they had
had a rest on Monday before the journey home. I also found the horses legs who
wore bandages were very hot – whereas the horse’s legs that had light travelling
boots (cheap Solo Saddler) were cool and comfortable. We let the horses out
into the paddock for the night with plenty of green grass and water. Also hay
nets work well – the horses that had hay on the floor dug at the hay with their
front feet and were unable to eat it.
N.B. Ideally it would be good to identify a place in Karoi that the horses could get
off the truck and rest – something to work on.
Dr Chikoondo was contacted the next day to inform him of the safe arrival
of the horses and the paperwork delivered to him on Thursday 19 March. He
inspected the horses on Wednesday 25 March. The horses remain under
observation for 3 weeks during which time if any horse shows signs of ill health
the Gov. Vet will be notified.
THE WEEK BEFORE THE EVENT 10 – 13 MARCH
The Zimbabwe NF had organized several clinics and social occasions for
the Zambian visitors.
10 March – Cross Country Practice with Darrell Scaife. The Zambians who were
in Zimbabwe were lucky to have an excellent training session on how to ride
cross country jumps with Darrell.
11 March – Coaches Clinic with Darrell Scaife – I attended this clinic alongside
several other trainers. Darrell is a top British coach and it was a great
experience to attend his clinic. Other coaches on the clinic that visit Zambia
included: Martine and Dennis Lambert and Trish Lillie. He started his lecture
with the question: “Why do we coach?” the answer – “For the welfare of the
horse - to make riders easier for horses to carry.”
12 & 13 March – FEI Course - Course Design (David Evans GB) and Technical
Delegate (Patricia Clifton GB). Rachel Howard, Alison Hawke, Christopher
Nicolle and Peter Castle attended the course held at Arlington.
13 March – Course Walk with Darrell Scaife. Cocktail Party.
THE EVENT 14 & 15 MARCH
14 March: The dressage and show jumping were held at the Harare Exhibition
Park (where the horses were stabled) on Saturday.
The event was very well organized and well supported with 115 entries.
As well as Zambia, who were competing in the National classes, there were also
South African athletes and their horses that had travelled to Harare to compete
in the FEI CSI* which made the event very interesting.
The dressage had 4 arenas running at the same time – a real show of
strength and depth to the officials base in Zimbabwe, furthermore 2 of the arenas
had 2 judges each. Not only judges but the stewards, scribes, scorers etc. were
all on target – very impressive.
Zambia did very well and after day one had five in the lead in all five of
the classes we had entered.
15 March: The cross country day was held at Camilla and Hugh Morris’ little
dairy farm on a hill in Umwinsidale, Harare. What was noticeable again was the
huge amount of support the event had in helpers – each competitor is obliged to
bring at least one helper and this makes a huge difference to the running of the
event and the great atmosphere of community spirit that prevailed.
At the event the results were constantly processed and posted on the
board, plus the music and commentating made the day very good fun.
The CSI* was a thrilling event, the track was designed by David Evans and
built by Camilla Morris – looking forward to Zambia holding one next year!
The Zambian riders and horses really did look the part and most had very
good rounds. The full results are attached but the riders placed in the top 3
were: Rachel Howard & Cider With Rosie – Gold Adult 90cm. Izzy Degroot &
Olive Grove – Gold Junior 70cm. Emma Hawke & No Nonsence – Silver Pony
Rider 70cm. Nicholas Nicolle & Dazzle – Bronze Pony Rider 80cm and Nunu
Henderson & Grand Kahir – Bronze Junior 80cm. A fantastic result for Zambia!
ZAMBIANS THAT COMPETED IN ZIMBABWE
Elsa Clemensson & Twiggy
Bunty Howard & Starwood Gdansk
Rachel Howard & Cider With Rosie & Super Star
Alistair Howard & Twinkle Toes
Isabel Degroot & Olive Grove
Nibby Bicknell
Jaiden Wilde
Alison Hawke & Charara
Emma Hawke & No Nonsence
Ariana Castle & Firefly
Oenone Castle & Sir Lancelot
Diana Zarrour & Jahouti
Nicholas Nicolle & Dazzle
Madelaine Nicolle & Don’t Tell Levi
Gillian Henderson & Grand Kahir
Mike Mallet
Carolyn Lindsay